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We've heard or at least seen in the Rocky movies some very strange training concepts.

Pounding raw meat, chasing chickens but how about throwing big chunks of wood?

That's the Hughie Fury method seen up in the Lake District ahead of his big fight.

Luke Reddy
BBC Sport boxing reporter at Manchester Arena

Image source, .

I've just had a chat to someone from Joseph Parker's team ringside. They believe their man will "destroy" Hughie Fury, pointing to the fact the British fighter has been out of the ring for 16 months.

They believe all the sparring in the world can't prepare you for fight night and smaller, more punishing gloves. Hard to argue with that really.

Their intention after this fight is for Parker to train in Las Vegas as he does already but spend a lot more time in the UK to build a profile.

Elsewhere in the arena there's a clear mix. Some eat refreshments and are here for a night out, others are clearly hardened boxing folk, sitting on the edge of their seat screaming at the ring, feinting as punches are thrown. One gent has screamed the sentence "pick your punches" around 3,658 times.

Welsh Vikings Hammer: I like the Fury camp, but I don't get the idea to bury this TV coverage in random PPV. He's not there yet.

The fight is not on a regular television channel tonight, with fans having to buy the fight to watch it on YouTube.

Former WBC world heavyweight champion Frank Bruno is rooting for Hughie Fury to become the latest in a line of British heavyweight kings.

Will Fury hear the words 'and the new' later tonight?

Luke Reddy
BBC Sport boxing reporter at Manchester Arena

Image source, .

Forget the bookmakers, pundits and those who think they are in the know, nothing gives you a gauge of who will win like a group of fans.

From left to right, here we have Shaun Dickinson, Sharon Etherington, Glyn Berry, Mitchell Berry and Nicolette Dickinson, they've come from Salford and Burnley to support an undercard fighter. He lost but they assure me a decision robbed him!

And they are split on the main event. Glyn believes Hughie Fury gets this done, Mitchell sees a Joseph Parker knockout.

The fact they are split only adds to what I've heard elsewhere - this could be close.

As a youngster, Hughie Fury showed promise by winning a gold medal at the Youth Boxing World Championships in Yerevan back in 2012 - the first British boxer to do so.

He turned professional at the age of 18 and travelled to Montreal, Canada, to make his debut against David Whittom, winning by second round stoppage in March 2013.

Trained by his father Peter alongside his cousin Tyson, Hughie boxed on his undercards before watching Tyson shock the boxing world by becoming a unified champion in 2015.

But the belts became vacant and Hughie earned his shot by beating Fred Kassi on a technical decision to become the mandatory challenger for the WBO belt in 2016.

Image source, Getty Images

Robert Black: Parker will drop Fury in the 5th.

Remember, you will get to hear from Mike Costello and Steve Bunce when our BBC Radio 5 live commentary gets under way soon.

Luke Reddy
BBC Sport boxing reporter at Manchester Arena

Image source, .

I understand Joseph Parker's team have been disappointed by ticket sales for tonight's show.

Hughie Fury's promoter said he hoped to hit 8,000 but estimates seem to be a gathering of around 6,500.

That could feel odd in a 21,000-seat arena but organisers have used a curtain to block off the top tier so come the main event, it may not feel too weird.

Joseph Parker has travelled a long way (from Auckland, New Zealand) to defend his title.

He became the first man from his country to hold a world heavyweight boxing title when he beat Andy Ruiz on points to claim the WBO belt in December 2016.

Like his next opponent Hughie Fury, boxing runs deep in his family and he was taught the basics by his father, who was named after the legendary champion Jack Dempsey, from the age of three.

His trainer tonight though is Kevin Barry, who won an Olympic silver medal at light-heavyweight for New Zealand in 1984 when he faced future four-time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield en route to the final.

Image source, Getty Images

Jamie Lockey: Two out of shape blokes waiting to be Wilder or Joshua cannon fodder.

Anthony Joshua holds the IBO, WBA and IBF versions of the heavyweight titles, while American Deontay Wilder is the WBC champion. Both will be watching on with interest.

Hughie Fury linked up with his favourite football team Manchester United at their training ground this week.

He may have even provided some heavyweight inspiration into their 1-0 win at Southampton this afternoon.

But can he add to the sporting success of Manchester with a local lad owning a prized piece of the heavyweight jigsaw?

Luke Reddy
BBC Sport boxing reporter at Manchester Arena

A win for Fury would see him become world champion in the week of his 23rd birthday. He has not fought since April 2016 and critics say the names on his unbeaten 20-fight record are not strong enough for him to be at this level.

His mark of 10 knockouts points to him being a skilled pugilist rather than one who relies on raw power and in learning those fundamentals, Fury did not have it easy.

When his professional career did blossom he faced a long battle with a skin condition known as Acne Conglobata., external The disease crushed his confidence and provided serious issues in his last fight where he boxed with an ulcerated mouth and a blistered neck.

A consultation and work with a London-based specialist provided medication which Fury says hit his body and mind hard but ultimately cleared the condition.

"I've not had the easiest road, especially with my illnesses and stuff like that," he told BBC Sport. "My battles have been outside the ring. I believe this is my destiny.

"No one will have seen what will hit Joseph Parker. This is a different Hughie Fury. I'm so hungry. When I say I am going to knock him out, I will knock him out."

Read more of Luke's excellent feature here.

Anthony: Be great to have another champ on the heavyweight scene good luck Hugh mate.

Luke Reddy
BBC Sport boxing reporter at Manchester Arena

Image source, .

It's a little tense around the entrances tonight. This is of course the first boxing show at this arena since the tragic attacks earlier in the year.

Around 100 metres from the Manchester Arena I see a group of police with dogs.

Stewards seem a little worked up, I hear one shouting for a gate to be closed and when inside one lady is adamant I can't pass a certain gate.

Hughie Fury's cousin Tyson, who ripped the WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles from Wladimir Klitschko in 2015, will of course be ringside tonight.

He will be hoping Hughie can bring back the WBO heavyweight title to the Fury family mantelpiece.

We will have live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live later on so make sure you join the best in the business - Mike Costello and Steve Bunce - for all the action later on.

Let us know your thoughts on the fight by tweeting us using the hashtag #bbcboxing

Hello there and thanks for joining us for coverage of the WBO world heavyweight title fight as New Zealand's Joseph Parker aims to defend his title.

He is on away ground though as he faces England's Hughie Fury at the Manchester Arena.

Image source, Getty Images